Countries with more than one capital

Nearly every country keeps things simple: one capital, one answer. But a handful split the role — across branches of government, or between the city that holds the official title and the one that actually runs the country. These are the ones that catch people out in a quiz.

The only country with three

South Africa spreads its government across three cities on purpose — a compromise from the 1910 Union of South Africa, designed so that no single region held all the power.

South Africa

  • Executive Pretoria — the president and cabinet (Union Buildings)
  • Legislative Cape Town — Parliament
  • Judicial Bloemfontein — the Supreme Court of Appeal

It is the only country in the world with three capitals. Geotrivial’s answer is Pretoria.

Two capitals, split by branch of government

These countries keep the official title in one city and run part of the government from another — usually to break a tie between history and growth.

Bolivia

  • Constitutional Sucre — the official capital and seat of the judiciary
  • Seat of government La Paz — the executive and legislature

Sucre kept the constitutional title; La Paz grew into the working capital in the late 1800s. Game answer: Sucre.

Eswatini

  • Administrative Mbabane — where the government runs from
  • Royal & legislative Lobamba — Parliament and the monarchy’s seat

Game answer: Mbabane.

Sri Lanka

  • Legislative Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte — Parliament (since 1982)
  • Commercial Colombo — the largest city and economic hub

Kotte was built just outside Colombo to relieve its congestion. Game answer: the official capital, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.

Malaysia

  • Constitutional & royal Kuala Lumpur — Parliament and the King’s residence
  • Administrative Putrajaya — the Prime Minister’s office and federal ministries

Putrajaya was purpose-built in the late 1990s to decongest KL. Game answer: Kuala Lumpur.

The official capital vs. the city that actually runs things

Here the “capital” on paper isn’t where the government sits — a quirk that trips up almost everyone.

Netherlands

  • Constitutional capital Amsterdam — the official capital since 1815
  • Seat of government The Hague — Parliament, the ministries, the Supreme Court and the monarch’s working palace

Amsterdam holds the title; The Hague does the governing. Game answer: Amsterdam.

Benin

  • Official capital Porto-Novo — where the National Assembly sits
  • Seat of government Cotonou — the largest city and most ministries

Cotonou overtook Porto-Novo as the de-facto capital from the 1970s. Game answer: Porto-Novo.

Ivory Coast

  • Political capital Yamoussoukro — the official capital since 1983
  • Economic capital Abidjan — most government offices and embassies remain here

Game answer: Yamoussoukro.

Burundi

  • Political capital Gitega — made the official capital in 2019
  • Economic capital Bujumbura — the former capital and largest city

One of the most recent capital switches in the world. Game answer: Gitega.

Montenegro

  • Capital Podgorica — the seat of modern government
  • Old Royal Capital Cetinje — the president’s residence and historic seat

Cetinje still holds the official title “Old Royal Capital”. Game answer: Podgorica.

Recently settled: Tanzania

Some countries are mid-move. Tanzania announced the switch in 1974 and made it official in 1996, but the government only finished relocating recently.

Tanzania

  • Official capital Dodoma — the new State House opened in 2023
  • Commercial capital Dar es Salaam — the former capital and main port

A 50-year move that is now essentially complete. Game answer: Dodoma.

So what’s the “right” answer?

Geotrivial always counts the official or constitutional capital — the one on paper — so the answers above are what the game expects. The quickest way to lock them in is to drill capitals by continent.

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